CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – A Saturday afternoon residential fire, possibly caused by a lightning strike from a passing thunderstorm, was contained by Clarksville firefighters to the attic of the home.

No one was injured in the fire at 1274 Carnation Ct., and Clarksville Fire Rescue Marshal Ray Williams said it was reported at 2:52 p.m.

CFR stations 8, 9 and 10 responded to the fire. “I will say that, during the time of the fire, there was a pretty bad thunderstorm passing through, with lightning and thunder accompanying it,” Williams said.

“When our firefighters arrived, smoke was visible coming from the attic area of the roof,” he said. As firefighters rushed inside, he said they found no evidence of flames on the first or second floors. They breached a small hole in the ceiling of the upstairs bathroom, leading into the attic, where they discovered the attic fully engulfed in flames.

“At that point our firefighters backed out and assumed a defensive attack,” Williams said. It took about 45 minutes to get it under control, and additional hot spots were still being extinguished beyond that time.

“We do not know the cause, but it could have been lightning-related,” Williams said. “A neighbor reported that, shortly before the fire was reported the lights flickered and there was a loud boom heard.”

Reach Business Editor Jimmy Settle at 931-245-0247 and on Twitter @settle_leaf.